A little push for Love Contract...

[dangermousie]

I am too tired to post much, so instead I bring my favorite MV of one of my favorite drama couples, the OTP of Taiwanese drama, Love Contract:

LC is probably the most uneven drama I've ever seen: parts of it brilliant and parts only made for ff button. I never have any idea whether to rec it or not. It's flawed, sure, but the good parts are sooooo good.

The good parts? Mike He and Ariel Lin, both playing squarely against type as two damaged, not-fitting-in people: he a laconic loner and she an abrasive, scarred acting-out hothead. Their love story (and their interactions in general) are so awesome, so not really twdramaish, so goooood. Not to mention their chemistry is through the roof. I also love some creative filming devises and interesting family dynamics. And on a more shallow note? My fave twdrama kiss is from this drama.

The not so good are all the little sub-stories about their friends. The director clearly thought they were interesting, but they are not. But hey, that is what ff button is for.

And then there is that ending. Warning: I cried more at the end of this drama than any other drama I've seen. I think I went into hysterics. You've been warned.

Comments

[calixa.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree. LC is so flawed but what it does right it does so good. Though IMO the ending is a cop out... I guess the director couldn't think of a believable way for them to reconcile or something.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I don't think the ending was because of that. That director also did Marry Me which I didn't see yet, and apparently that also has a sudden tragic ending. So I guess it's just how he rolls. Maybe he wants to be a kdrama director :)

Joking aside, I wonder if they would have ever reconciled. The problem wasn't that she lost faith he loved her: I think she knew/believed that he did when he came around to see her. The problem was that she was so damaged (I can see why: it's her own father who gave her the burn) that she was barely able to open up to begin with so when that trust was yanked from her, I don't know if she was capable of putting herself out there again, even if she was certain he loved her.

Part of the reason I loved that relationship so was because even though it was total 'true love' it was also very fragile and not entirely healthy. I think it they were allowed to be with each other together longer they would have 'fixed' each other, but the director wanted to make it one big tragedy, argh.

[calixa.livejournal.com]

You're right, I think they would have fixed each other eventually if she hadn't suddenly found out about the bet right after literally baring her soul to him. I agree with you, I don't think they could have reconciled, she's just too damaged and the writers/director probably realised that. That's why I think the ending is a cop-out: it's a meagre way to give viewers a semi-happy (if bittersweet) ending (aka everyone happy together in heaven or wtfever that was supposed to be).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I might be weird, but I'd be happier if they never reconciled but both remained alive :)

I give it a 50-50 chance of rconciliation if she did see his apology as opposed to having that accident.

But I guess the writing was on the wall early on, as soon as his Mom died. If she was still alive when the thing with Ariel happened, he would have felt responsibility towards his mother (he was always nothing if not responsible) and stayed but as he had nothing left, hello suicide!

[sodahands.livejournal.com]

I've heard a lot about this one. But most of it was negative (it's too boring and slow etc., etc.)

But I still want to watch it because of Mike He and Ariel Lin, both playing squarely against type as two damaged, not-fitting-in people... Not to mention their chemistry is through the roof.

It'll have to wait though since I just started watching Damo and I am so hooked!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's not boring or slow at all. Honest. The ship is amazing. Just ff through friends's stuff - it's pretty dull. But even with the flaws it's still one of my favorite twdramas.

And Mike and Ariel are brilliant and have chemistry to die for. I adore Mike/Rainie and Joe/Ariel as much as the next fangirl, but I think (blasphemy) that Mike/Ariel chemistry blows either of the other combos out of the water.

Damo!

[salimbol.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's very much what I found about this drama: any time Mike and Ariel were on screen I was riveted, it's beautifully shot, and I found the family stuff pretty interesting, but when I rewatch the remote control is definitely going to be my friend when the friends are on screen.
Heh - this is the first thing I ever saw Mike He in. I'm fairly certain that if I'd seen him in Devil Beside You first I'd have no very great impression of him, but he was sooo good in this (it goes without saying that Ariel was great, because she always rocks) that I'll always try something of his. And that crying scene of his at the end just broke my heart to pieces (yes, unsentimental me, weeping along with him).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I can't remember if I sae LC or DBY first. I am in a minority in that I don't care for DBY: I don't hate it or anything but I never got the fuss. In love Contract, Mike actually had to do acting but in DBY...

And even though of all Mike dramas I've seen, I like Why Why Love the best, I still think LC was his best acting job. Actually the same is true for Ariel. I adore ISWAK etc but there it is...

that crying scene of his at the end just broke my heart to pieces (yes, unsentimental me, weeping along with him).

I cried so hard during the last ep, I think I might have damaged something. The scene when he 'dances' with her...ouch. That was a pretty harsh ending. They both had such lousy lives and then it ended like this...

[salimbol.livejournal.com]

Yes, DBY is not a dorama I particularly like, I have to say. But we entertained ourselves as we watched by providing Mystery Science Theater-style snarky voiceovers, so it wasn't as painful an experience as it could have been :-).
I'd agree, both Ariel and Mike were at their best in Love Contract.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I have never been able to understand the wild success of DBY. The main couple is annoying and nothing happens. I did love the secondary OTP but that does not a great drama make.

[boycottbananas.livejournal.com]

I'm one of those rare people that absolutely loved Love Contract, despite the flaws. x_x It was just. The chemistry between Mike He and Ariel Lin! :o I think it was better than Joe Cheng and Ariel Lin. :o It was just...so much more realistic.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I love it despite the flaws too. The romance is so nuanced and so good.

And I am so glad I am not alone in thinking Mike/Ariel blows Joe/Ariel out of the water (and I adore Joe/Ariel).

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

Ok - now I need to know exactly what happens. I still might watch it but I'll need to know what's coming.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

OK, short version: her friend is taking her to see Mike's apology and they get into a motorcycle accident which puts her in a coma. Mike takes care of her for a year (there are some awesome tearjerking moments etc) and then finally basically picks her up and walks into the ocean with her to drown. and then they are all happy in heaven.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's a kinda common action in fiction, I think. Was he medically promised she'd never wake up & did he know she'd agree? It's a little evil to make that kind of decision for someone else, especially if there's a chance of recovery. (not that I'd agree with the situation in real life at all but it's something I can live with in fiction)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Not really...they were kinda very messed up though.

[joonni.livejournal.com]

This is one of those dramas where you know there is something good but you just can't get to it through all of its muddiness.

As for chemistry, yes, so good. I love hot Mike and Ariel seem so natural instead of overdone as in ISWAK and DBY or WWL. It's like, yes, Mike He can do something else besides play the cliche bad boy of angst.

As his hair, yey!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I really hope they make another drama together!